Nancy Reagan is 'heartbroken' over the death of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, a close friend and kindred political spirit of her late husband, but is too frail to attend her funeral.

The former first lady, 91, has instead asked the chairman of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation to represent her at the London service Wednesday, her spokeswoman said.

'Mrs Reagan is heartbroken over Baroness Thatcher's death and would really like to be there in person to pay her respects,' the spokeswoman said.

Friends: Nancy Reagan, the wife of US president Ronald Reagan, is said to be devastated about Margaret Thatcher's death, but will also not be attending the funeral

'Unfortunately, she is no longer able to make that kind of a trip, so will not be attending the funeral.

'She has asked Fred Ryan, the chairman of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and long-time personal friend, to represent her.'

Lady Thatcher who was Britain's first
female prime minister was in office for 11 years, from 1979 to 1990. She
died Monday after suffering a stroke at age 87.

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All surviving presidents have been invited to the funeral as has former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, officials said.

Around 2,000 invitations are being sent out.

The Queen and Prince Philip broke with tradition by agreeing to attend the funeral.

The
only other time a reigning monarch had attended the final farewell of a
Prime Minister was in 1965, when the Queen joined the congregation for
the funeral of Winston Churchill.

The extraordinary gesture delighted
Lady Thatcher’s friends and allies disappointed that she would not be
honoured with a full state funeral. No other members of the Royal Family will be present.

'A man we can do business with': Margaret Thatcher and Mikhail Gorbachev during a meeting at the Kremlin in 1987

It has emerged former Soviet leader
Mikhail Gorbachev will not attend Baroness Thatcher's funeral due to ill
health as Downing Street started sending invites round the world today.

The
82-year-old, who paid tribute to as a 'heavyweight politician and a
striking person' following her death on Monday, was expected to be one
of many global figures to attend next week.

His spokesman, Vladimir Polyakov, said he would not be attending due to health problems.

The guest list had been drawn up by Lady Thatcher's family and
representatives with the assistance of the Government and the
Conservative Party, Downing Street officials said.

More
than 2,000 invitations are expected to be printed today and sent out
tomorrow. Altogether 2,300 people are set to pack St Paul's.

A
representative of former South African president Nelson Mandela - whose
ANC Lady Thatcher once described as a terrorist group - has been
invited.

The dress code
for the event gives guests the option of 'Full Day Ceremonial without
swords', 'Morning Dress (Black Waistcoat and Black Tie) / dark suit', or
'Day dress with Hat'.

It also specifies that 'medals and decorations' may be worn.

The
invitations will be color coded depending on the importance of the
guest. VIP versions are white with red or green stripes and recipients
will be seated under the dome of the cathedral.

Other colors designate different areas of seating.

Paying respects: Around 2,000 mourners are expected to be at St Paul's Cathedral next Wednesday

But Argentine President Cristina
Fernández de Kirchner will not be invited to Baroness Thatcher’s
funeral, MailOnline has learned.

Officials
drawing up the guest list have moved to block an invitation being sent
to President Kirchner who in recent months has sought to reignite the
struggle for control of the Falkland Islands.

Tributes: Cards and flowers continue to be left outside Baroness Thatcher's home in London

President Obama and wife, Michelle, are
expected to be invited along with the first President George Bush, who
was in the White House while Lady Thatcher was in Downing Street, and
his wife, Barbara, but it has not yet been made clear who will make the
trip.

David Cameron will be joined by Sir John Major and senior politicians from the Thatcher years, but there may be a couple of notable exceptions.

Her political opponent Lord Kinnock will not attend the funeral.

The former Labour leader has instead chosen to attend a memorial service for a former councillor in Wales next Wednesday.

'He will not be attending because a councillor in his old constituency died a few days before Lady Thatcher. He promised he would go to the funeral,' his spokesman said.

FW de Klerk, the last president of apartheid South Africa, will be attending the funeral as a guest of the Thatcher family, a spokesman for the FW de Klerk Foundation confirmed yesterday.

Mr de Klerk, who ordered the release of Nelson Mandela from jail and agreed to negotiations that ended apartheid, earlier paid tribute to Lady Thatcher 'not only as one of Britain's greatest prime ministers but also as a leader whose policies and approach had a significant impact on politics throughout the world'.

Germany’s premier Angela Merkel will decide within the next 48 hours whether to attend but if not, her place will be taken instead by President Joachim Gauck.

Message: German chancellor Angela Merkel signs the condolence book for Margaret Thatcher at the British Embassy in Berlin today

Ten members of staff from the Ritz hotel, where Lady Thatcher had been staying since Christmas until her death there on Monday, have also been invited to her funeral as thanks for the care she received.

Comedian Jim Davidson is likely to attend as she was a 'great fan', according to former MP Gyles Brandreth, who said she like his attempts to entertain the troops and his charity work.

Scotland Yard said today that it is working with City of London Police (CoLP) and British Transport Police (BTP) to finalise planning and preparations for the policing operation for the funeral.

Police officers will be stationed along the funeral cortege's route, and road closures will be in place, as well as a range of security measures.

A mobile team of officers, called reserves, will also be ready to respond to events anywhere in London.

Stand off: The first of several planned 'Thatcher death parties' across the country began on Monday night with more than 200 revellers gathering in Brixton, south London

The Left's sick 'celebration' of Baroness Thatcher's death: Hundreds of people block the streets in Brixton, South London

Commander Christine Jones, from the Met Police, said: 'Our planning is being carried out using tried and tested systems so we are in a position to deliver the most effective operation we can.

'Every operation that we deliver is based upon a thorough assessment of the potential risks, and then we plan the most effective ways to mitigate against them.

'We wish to deliver our operation in a way that protects and secures, but does not intrude upon those people who wish to pay their respects.'

She said they would monitor a range of information for the most 'up-to-date intelligence picture', right up until Wednesday, adding: 'There has been much speculation about what levels of protest may take place.

'I would ask anyone who wishes to demonstrate then, or in the coming days, to come and talk to us.

'The right to protest is one that must be upheld; however, we will work to do that whilst balancing the rights of those who wish to pay their respects and those who wish to travel about London as usual.'